The Gulu area has begun a large vaccination campaign against Covid-19.
In a month-long vaccination effort that began last week, the Gulu district Covid-19 taskforce hopes to vaccinate up to 23,496 persons against Covid-19.
In a month-long vaccination effort that began last week, the Gulu district Covid-19 taskforce hopes to vaccinate up to 23,496 persons against Covid-19. The District Health Department received 2,318 Sinovac vaccine doses, 2,506 Moderna vaccine doses, and 20,990 AstraZeneca vaccine doses.
Unlike Sinovac, which has a longer shelf life, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines will expire on November 29 and 30, 2021, respectively. In this context, the health service is racing against the clock to get the public to use the vaccines that are still accessible before they expire.
Dr Kenneth Canna, the Gulu District Acting Health Officer, says they’re using local radio stations to reach out to varied audiences through hourly DJ mentions and encourage people to visit their nearest health facilities and be vaccinated. Dr. Canna said that they are also utilizing business entities such as Nile Breweries to reach out to various audiences, as well as static programs at various health facilities.
“Last week, the taskforce, in collaboration with Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and Nile Breweries Ltd, vaccinated around 500 individuals at Kaunda grounds in a two-day immunization program.” Vaccination figures are still being collated, but over 1,000 people have been vaccinated across the nine health centers, according to Dr. Canna.
Charles Lakidi Omayolwak, 49, a Kasubi central village resident who had his vaccine at Kaunda grounds, praised the government for making the vaccination process accessible to all.
Betty Piloya, a resident of Olayilong village in Bardege-Layibi division, told URN that she had wanted to be vaccinated for a long time but had been denied because the government had initially targeted only frontline workers.
Gulu District Speaker Phoebe Ayoo Obol, who has finished both cycles of her inoculation, said the public’s desire for the vaccine is increasing now that no bad effects have been detected.
The public, according to Gulu City Acting Health Officer Yoweri Idibia, is tired of following the Ministry of Health’s standard operating procedures. People no longer wear masks or follow social distance standards, he says, which could lead to an increase in new instances.
Gulu has had 413 cumulative confirmed cases of the virus since President Yoweri Museveni enforced a second lockdown in June. At the moment, at least 18 patients are receiving home-based care, the bulk of whom are from Patiko sub-county.
This is due to the delayed uptake of vaccines by the primary target group, which includes the elderly, teachers, security forces, and health staff, among others.
